About

$11,562

pledged of $10,000 goal

53

backers

Some Background:

Did you know that worldwide, approximately 5 billion people still have no access to basic surgical care? And according to the World Health Organization, fully 11% of the global disease burden can be treated with surgery. More people from the developing world die from surgical need than AIDS and malaria and other ailments combined.

The Film Journey We'll Take You On:

With renowned public health expert, surgeon, author, “overlander” and humanitarian Dr. Glenn Geelhoed, MD as our guide and side by side with his NGO Mission to Heal medical mission team members, join us for an epic film journey, Surgery on the 6th Ring of Saturn, to deliver basic surgical care to the most destitute people living in the most desolate places on earth. Take moment to watch the above background film we've put together.

Much more than a bio-documentary, the film builds a kinship between the viewer and a host of leading characters, some human, some made up of steel and state-of-the-art medical/surgical technology all against the backdrop of a most formidable character – the sheer geographic topography forged to get to and operate in remote mission destinations like the “hinterlands” of Mongolia and across the challenging inaccessible terrain of countries throughout the Continent of Africa.

Our film seeks to evoke in the viewer a greater understanding and connectedness to people they will never meet – the beneficiaries of the surgical/medical mission work. Through evocative story-telling and lush cinematography and musical score, we seek to inspire and move viewers of all ages and backgrounds to ponder and define their own life’s mission.

We have been provided full access to Dr. Geelhoed, his circles of influence and his work. We will capture the perspectives of medical students, doctors and others who come from all over the world to work with and learn from him – in this way our film will have international appeal and focus.

The new Mobile Surgical Unit Man-Kat (MSU) will allow Dr. "G" and his mission volunteers to travel further and for longer amounts of time into the most remote locations to save lives.

We will engage government and NGO leaders through such entities as the African Union in addressing the challenges of meeting the surgical healthcare needs of people who, through sheer fate, are members of the “bottom billion” in our world. We will give “voice” to the members of these indigenous communities who teach us perseverance, resilience, ingenuity and extraordinary adaptability.

Use of Kickstarter Funding:

The immediate funding need of $10,000 will be used for pre-production projects. See below for more details.

Film Production Schedule:

Pre-Production - January - December 2018 During this time we have produced the teaser video above. We will embark on our first film shoot to Mongolia in August to join Dr. Geelhoed and his medical mission volunteers. We will submit our documentary overview and budget to a number of film grantors and establish a fiscal sponsor for the film. And we will raise funds for additional film shoots on the Continent of Africa and here in the United States.

Production - January - April 2019 Two to three additional film shoots will take the film crew to remote locations such as the River Volta in Ghana, Ethiopia and Sudan. During these months we will secure further funding for the film and create an overall strategy for film marketing and distribution.

Post-Production - May - August, 2019 Completion of the editing process happens during this time including the addition of graphics and effects, music scoring and sound mixing. The film will be prepared for release in various formats for submission to film festivals and distributors.

Long-Term Uses of the Film- Beyond August, 2019 It is our intention that the film be a global marketing, public awareness, and mission volunteer recruitment film highlighting the work of Dr. Geelhoed's surgical missions operations. In addition, our intention is to ensure the film is presented at educational institutions across the United States and abroad and is shared with medical field practioners, government influencers on public healthcare in the developing world, like-minded NGOs and corporate and foundation entities, and the specialized community of "overlander" enthusiasts.

Overall Budget for the Film:

The crafting and distribution of a professionally produced feature-length documentary can cost a minimum of $250,000 depending on a world of factors. Traveling with Dr. "G" to the most remote places on the planet is expensive. Our film crew are Emmy-awarding wining professionals who are true craftsmen of cinematography, expert storytellers and "deliver." We'll produce an original music score and motion graphics that further inspires the viewer. An appropriate level of financial investment in the film's global community outreach, marketing and distribution is critical. The return on investment will be the film's ability to serve as a compelling and long-lasting vehicle to bring greater public awareness to and funding for medical mission efforts around the globe especially those conducted by Mission to Heal. To address our production costs we'll seek funding from film grantors, corporate benefactors and like-minded international visionary leaders who see the great value in this film. We anticipate film distribution and screen event revenue generation as well.

Film Advisory Group and Executive Producing Team:

GLENN GEELHOED, Founder of Mission to Heal Glenn received his BS and AB cum laude from Calvin College and MD cum laude from the University of Michigan. He completed his surgical internship and residency through Harvard University at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital Medical Center. To assist in developing further volunteer surgical services in underserved areas of the developing world, Glenn completed masters degrees in international affairs, epidemiology, health promotion and disease prevention, anthropology, and a philosophy degree in human sciences.
He still works as a professor of surgery at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington D.C. and is a member of numerous medical, surgical, and international academic societies. Glenn is an avid game hunter and runner. He has completed more than 135 marathons across the globe. He is also a widely published author accredited with several books and more than 500 published journal articles and chapters in books. He has two sons and five grandchildren.
Notable awards and appointments:
Humanitarian of the Year, GEORGE Magazine
Volunteerism Award for International Outreach, American College of Surgeons
Faculty Distinguished Service Award, George Washington University Medical School
Inductee, Academie de Chirurgie de Paris
Past President, Washington Academy of Surgeons
Traveling Scholar, James IV Association of Surgeons Senior Fulbright Scholar.

FRANK MANIGLIA, Jr. Director of Photography and Master Editor Cinematographer Frank Maniglia, Jr. is one of the best high-definition directors of photography on the East Coast, earning three Emmys, innumerable industry awards and nominations, and the respect of television producers throughout the country. He was President of MVI Post, one of the top HD facilities in the nation and earned an outstanding reputation across the industry as Producer, Director, Director of Photography, and Editor, creating a dynamic body of work in documentaries, specials, industrial films, public service announcements, and broadcast programs. What distinguishes Frank from others in the industry is his impressive “finishing” perspective, particularly in the format of high-definition. Frank’s creative and extensive background allows him to bring a distinctive vision to every project. His clients include Discovery Channel, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, The Learning Channel, The History Channel, Discovery Wings and Discovery International, non-governmental organizations like United Way of America, and government entities like NASA, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), HUD (Housing Urban Development).

GARY CHRISTIAN Co-Producer/Cinematographer Gary is an accomplished writer and editor of video and film projects with more than twenty-five years of experience. He has developed concepts and scripts for Fortune 500 companies, national associations, non-profits, and broadcast networks. Gary specializes in working with a variety of styles to educate, train and motivate a wide range of audiences. One of his greatest strength and trademarks is a final product that is honest and engaging for the audience and on-target for the client’s intended purpose. Gary has been honored with multiple awards for his work with FedEx Express creating a new hire orientation video, also awards for a ten-year project with the Hilton/Early Head Start Training Program creating videos used by Head Start communities across the country. He also has scripted and directed program opens for HBO Sports and ESPN in addition to creating dozens of award-winning programs for corporate clients like JP Morgan, PepsiCo, Towers Watson, and others. Recent work includes the creation of web-based video promos for ECHO360, editing a video annual report for URS Corporation, co-producing and editing an hour-long R&D program for PepsiCo, and creating a Spanish language Telenovela for the Head Start National Center on Linguistics and Cultural Responsiveness.

ANNE MATHISCo/Line Producer Anne is a seasoned institutional fundraising and strategic communications professional. Over the past 17 years Anne has raised close to $140,000,000 in a series of extraordinary fundraising campaigns and major gifts programs. In collaboration with non-profit leaders and board members, she has solicited and secured, via face-to-face meetings, 8, 7, and 6-figure gifts from individual philanthropists and Fortune 500 corporate CEOs. Anne is experienced in serving as a trusted advisor, strategist, trainer, and partner to non-profit and Church leaders, board members, and program officers in their achieving institutional and departmental fundraising, marketing, special events goals and media/communications goals. Since 2014, Anne has partnered with Maniglia Media as both client film project creator/executive producer and as an independent freelance producer/interviewer/scriptwriter. Projects include a 20-minute film tribute on Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde, Bishop Emeritus, Diocese of Arlington called A Light for Others, An Apostle’s Calling and film productions for regional non-profits.

Join Us on This Extraordinary Film-Making Odyssey!

Risks and challenges

As is the case with most projects like this the ongoing funding for the film production will remain a critical focus for the executive producing team. And although Dr. Geelhoed is available to discuss the film project with potential high-level backers for the film his main focus is on delivering surgical care and seeking funding for his mission trips through the non-profit he founded - Mission to Heal (www.missiontoheal.org).

We do not anticipate any other major factor that would delay our film production.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $35 or more
About $35

Mission to Heal Team Alumni

Well, we don’t have to explain anything to you. You know first hand the impact Dr. “G” and Mission to Heal has had over these many years with help from mission team members like you! Help us bring this experience to the big screen so that a global audience can witness what is doable in a seemingly impossible environment.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

Friends of Delivering Surgical Care

Because you have a special interest in our filming surgical mission trips in Mongolia and on the Continent of Africa including Ghana, Ethiopia, North and South Sudan and the fourteen nation states of the South African Development Council!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $100 or more
About $100

An Overlander's Quest

Yes, you know who you are or who you may aspire to be - a traveler who’d rather forge their own path! In supporting the production of this film you are helping people understand that with the right mobility and technology basic surgical care to the most destitute people living in the most desolate places on the planet can be delivered.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

Man-Kat Rider

A Man-Kat is a beast of a six-wheel high mobility tactical truck. In the Dr. Geelhoed’s world this kind of truck is perfect for carrying a self-contained 2-bed surgical center that can go just about anywhere.